Adjustable seat supporting means



Feb. 2,'1954 y c, E. MGCORMICK 2,6675912 ADJUSTABLE SEAT SUPPORTING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l BY Feb. 2, 19.54 c. E. MccoRMxcK "25675912 ADJUSTABLE SEAT SUPPORTING MENS --4 SheetseShe'et '2 Filed Sept. 1l, 1951 INVENTOR. Me/f/Vffwv/c BY l I 4 Shee'sfSheet 3 Filed Sept. ll, 1951 JNVENTOR Medef/wc# c. E. MGCORMICK Amusmsm SEAT SUPPORTING MEANS Feb. 2, 1954 4 Sheets-'Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 11,. 1951 \N\ NMllllV l l l I n I l Il INVENToR. 'zezfsf/Vrewcx BY Mr XdJ/LLL/ NQML www

Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED vSTATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SEAT SUPPORTING MEANS' Charles E. McCormick, Dearborn, Mich.

Application September 11, 1951, Serial No. 246,011

15 Claims. 1

This invention relates to vehicle seats and more particularly to supporting means for adjustable vehicle seats.

It is an object of this invention to provide a seat track structure and suporting means for a vehicle seat which lcan be manufactured economically, which operates very smoothly and freely, and which can be effectively clamped in a rigid locked position to provide a very stable seat structure.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of' a simple and very effective latch operating mechanism for simultaneously operating a latch assembly on each of tWo widely spaced track assemblies.

Still another object of the invention resides in the simplified seat track or seat side construction wherein the conventional interlocking fianges on the individual tracks in each track as sembly are replaced with a simplified interlock- Aing member which also serves to clamp the tracks together in any position of adjustment.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an adjustable seat slide which, when locked, maintains the vehicle seat in a firmly fixed position without any rattle or looseness; and when the slide or track is unlocked, the seat may be moved very freely, the ease of movement being to a degree not usually present in such mechanisms.

The invention also has for an object the provision of a supporting structure for a vehicle seat which is much more rigid and stable than conventional constructions. Adjustable automobile seats are usually mounted at a considerable distance above the floor of the vehicle with the adjustable seat slides located at an intermediate line 'between the floor and the seat frame. This conventional construction has at times resulted in undesirable side movement of the seat due to the bending of the usually thin and unstable sheet metal iioor of the vehicle. I have found that this difficulty can be substantially eliminated by mounting the lower track member of the seat supporting slide directly on the thin sheet metal floor and by extending the ends of the upper track member upwardly and rigidly connecting these upper ends with the seat frame. Thus, in my construction, the relatively rigid seat frame maintains correct parallel relation of the sliding upper track members when the seat is being moved; and since the connection between the upper and lower track members lies practically within the plane of the sheet metal floor of the vehicle, the sidewise stresses on the seat do not 2 produce an appreciable bending movement on the sheet metal floor.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the seat supporting structure of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the operating mechanism for the locking pawls on the track members.

Fig. 3 is a sectiona1 view taken generally along the lines 3 3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5 5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken along the lines 6 6 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a view showing the cross sectional shape of the upper track member at the upper end thereof and its connection with the tubular seat frame.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower track member.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and showing a modified track construction.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines I0 I IJ in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional View taken along the lines I I I I in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower track section illustrated in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, there is illustrated a Vehicle seat generally referenced II) which includes a seat frame I2 having a transverse run I4 extending across the front of the seat, side runs I5 at each side of the seat, and a rear run I6 extending across the back side of the seat. Seat frame I2 is preferably fashioned from round tubing stock. The runs I4 and I5 are preferably in the form of an integral U-shaped member, and the member I6 is welded to the free ends of the runs I5 to provide a very rigid frame for the seat III.

Seat I0 is adjustably supported on the floor pan I'I of the vehicle and in spaced relation thereto by means of the seat track and supporting structure generally referenced I 8. The track and supporting structure I8 includes a lower track member 20 and an upper track member 22. Lower track member 20 is generally channel shaped in cross section, as is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, having a fiat base portion 24 with a longitudinal upwardly extending flange 26 at each edge thereof which is turned inwardly as at 28. Adjacent each end of the base portion 24, the lower track member 20 is fashioned with an `juxtaposed with4 raceways.` 32'.

each end the base portion 24 is provided withf astiiening rib 42 and an aperture 44 spaced in'- wardly of stiiening rib 42 for securing the-track l to the floor pan I1 of the vehicleas by. bolts 46.. The upper track member 22 is also generally channel shaped in section, having a; .haseportionf 48 formed with a raceway 53 and proyidedwith spaced depending anges 5t which are turned outwardly along their lower edges as at 52 so that theoutwardly turned langes52 aredisposed beneath the inwardly turned iiangesY 23 of track member 2B when the track members are assembled with the balls 34 therebetween. The overlapping relationship of ilanges 23 and' 52' permits a4 limited vertical movement of track member 22 'relative to track member 20, the extent of vertical movement being determined by the clearance. indicatedat 52S. in other words, there is arelatively loose lit between track members' 23 and 22 so that th'et-rack member" 2'2'is permitted to move freely without undue friction with trackmember 23.

Withv the two track members arranged in the position illustrated in Fig. l, raceway's. 35 are Atthe inner and outer ends of each raceway 56 the base portion d3 'hasfan' inwardly struck tab 58;' outer tab ,33 cooperating withA the bal'3a-,"and the adjacent stop "3&rlimitsthe movement of the track members 2t and 22 in one direction, and a similar arrange- 'menitiat the oppositie end of the assembly limits the movement of the track members in the 0D- nosite direction',A The inner `tabs 60.r are noti intended to limit; the movement of'thevtrack members `2 lland- 2,2'hut merely to prevent theballs 34 from escaping from their respective raceways. The 'overlappingfianges mand t2 prevent vertical separation of the track members when the balls 3 4engage the stops atthe ends ofraceways 32 and 56.

At- .each end upper track mernberfilr` isA curved upwardly asat 3,2 to provide a generally upright leg portion` 6dY atA each end of the track to which the tubular Vseat frame l2 may oe-connected. The extreme upper endY of'eachA leg (it is fashioned to provide a U-shaped socket 33 for the tubular 4vsame general cross. section as track 22 in the region. of'raceways` 5t: The tabs te deiine the ends'of each of. the raceways 36, the outer end -tabs being struck after the track members are Vassembled with thev balls 36 therebetween. Balls 3e are iirst slippedl into their respective raceways ofthe juxtaposed track members, and the outer vend tabs 60 are then struck inwardly.

In order to enable adjustment of upper track 22 to a plurality of xed positions along track 26, the base portion of the central, upwardly embossed portion 36 of lower track 20 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings it having abutments 11 on two sides thereof. Upper track member 22 has a latch member 'Z8 pivoted thereon. Latch member i8 is formed from two half sections riveted together as at Sil. Each half ksection ofklatcll.member 'Hlhasan outwardly oirset portion 32 which is; piwotally supported by the side wall portion 5I! of track member 22 as bv the trunnion pins 84 to form a yoke. The trunnion pins 84, it will be observed, are mounted on axisy extending perpendicular to the longitudinallaxis of the raceways 32 and 53. It will also be noted that the pivotal axis of the latch member 'l''g'nterseets the longitudinal axis of abutments` l1 in the embossed portion 35 of track mem-berm. The freeend of latch member 'i8 is formed with a detent86 which, when the latch member is pivot-led'.A is adapted to engage within one of the'openings '16; and;.aga-instl abutments ll to prevent relative longitudinal movement of vtrack members Zrand 22. Atl their extreme lower ends, the outwardly offset portions S2 of latch member; 18 whichstraddle track member 22 are bent inwardly asat 38;.,

`The side walls of the central upward embossment; 3 5.A oftrackgmember 2l) are provided with longitudinally extending openings or slots 2t through which, the inwardly4 extending flange portions 88, of latch member- 'i project. The upperfedgesof; slotsg are flanged as at 92 to providea smooth and rigidbearing surface. Flange portions 88 are fashioned with camsurfaces 3d which, when theV latch member 'I8 is pivoted to engagethe detent 83 with-one ofthe openings it, are brought into engagement with the hanged edges 92 alongthe upper edge of slot It will be-observed that,lwhenvlatch,member 'E8 is pivoted downwardly to engage detent with one of the openings 16, the` cam surfaces 34 clamp against the-anged edges 92v of openings te and thereby draw the upper trackmember 22 downwardly against balls 34.. In other words, latch member 18-serves not only to lock the track membersv against relative longitudinal, movement but also-torigidly clampthetrack members together and thereby prevent the upward displacement of upper track 22 such as might occur when the .vehicle is stopped, suddenly or when the occupant Vconnection between the two track members so that the. upper track member is permitted to roll freely onV the lower track member, and at the same timethe latch member 18 rmly clamps the two track members together when the seat is locked ina predetermined position of longitudinal` adjustment.

Latch memberl 18 is normally biased by a tension spring 98 in. a direction tending to engage detent- 86 withl one of the. openings 1B. It will be` appreciated that the track assemblies i8 at. each sidefof they seat are provided with a latch memberV 18, andA therefore means must be provided for simultaneously operating these latch members toy permitL convenient longitudinal adjustment ofV the seat. '.llhev means employed` are Dlefelaibly inV the; form. .ofA a exible cable 33 arranged,v in the form of a loop having one end connected with a pair of'lugs m2V on one of the latch membersV 'I8 and itsA other end connected to a similar pairof'lugs on the-latch mem-ber 78 at the other? side of the seat. The front leg portion 62 of each upper A'track member 20 has supported thereon, as by a bracket |04, a pulley |06 around which cable |00 extends. Cable |00 is of a length such that there is a slight slack in it when the cams 94 are in contact with flange 92, the detents 86 are in locked position, and the tracks 20 and 22 are tight together in the position illustrated in Fig. 3.

On the front run I4 of frame l2 there is pivotally supported a handle member |08 which is fashioned with a portion ||0 adapted to be gripped manually and with shaft portion |2 extending through and supported by a bracket |65 on the front run |4 and having fixed at the free end thereof a lever I4 provided with spaced apart pulleys ||6 between which the cable |00 extends. It will be observed that, when handle |08 is pivoted, the pulley members ||6 are revolved about shaft ||2 as an axis and thereby shorten the eiective length of cable |00 which in turn serves to pivot latch members T8 against the tension of springs 90v to disengage detents 06 from the cooperating openings 16 and at the same time to pivot the cam faces 94 downwardly out of engagement with the anged edges 92 of the slots 90.

The pulley members ||6 and |06 are employed so that there will be a minimum of friction associated with the operation of releasing the latch members. These members, however, need not be in the form of pulleys. The pulleys H6, for instance, merely serve as spaced apart projections on lever ||4; and these projections may be in the form of xed arcuate surfaces, for instance, rather than pulleys. y

It will be noted that the release mechanism described herein is designed to apply equal forces simultaneously on each of the two latch members 18 so that both of these latch members are simultaneously urged out of engagement with the openings 16 with equal force. If one latch moves more freely than the other, then the one latch will move irst to the limit of its movement, that is, to a position wherein the front edge I1 of latch 'i8 engages against the base portion 48 of track member 22. After the more freely movable latch member moves to the limit of its movement, then if sufficient force is applied to handle |08, the tighter latch at the other side of the seat will move out of engagement with its respective opening 16. If one of the latches moves prior to the other, then cable |00 will automatically slip past pulleys H6 when the handle |08 is pivoted. Therefore continued movement of handle |08 will result in full disengagement of both latches. Thus, the combination of the cable |00 and handle |08 insures equalization of the pull exerted on both of the latches and also insures the ulldisengagement of both latches. It will be appreciated, of course, that although the handle assembly |08 is illustrated as located on the front side of the seat in a more or less central position, this handle assembly can be located at almost any point around the front or side edges of the seat.

The construction illustrated in Figs. 9 through 12 is in general very similar to the embodiment already described. It will be noted, however, that the track members |20 and |22 are shaped slightly different from the track members 20 and 22. I have found that the provision of the overlapping flanges 23 and 52 is not absolutely essential, and therefore in the construction shown in Figs. 9 through 12, these overlapping flanges have been eliminated, thus lconserving material and eliminating forming and other operations. Thus, lower track member |22 terminates along each side with base vflanges |24 which are spaced below and do not overlie the base flanges |26 of upper track member |20. Flanges |24 and |26 are provided primarily for the purpose of strengthening these track members. From the standpoint of safety, it is important, however, in a seat track construction to provide means for preventing complete separation of the track members in case of sudden impact or collision.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 through 8 the safety means comprise the overlapping anges 28 and 52. In the embodiment illustrated ink Figs. 9 through l2 the safety means for preventing separation of the track members comprise a pin |28 which extends across the lower ends of the laterally offset side wall portions |30 of latch member |32. The base of track member |22 has an upwardly oiset central portion |34 for accommodating pin |28. It will be observed, as in the previous embodiment described, that latch member |32 is pivotally supported on the upper track member |20 as by trunnion pins |36. Pin |28 extends below and entirely across the base of track member |22. In this form of construction the floor panel |38 of the vehicle is provided witha recessed portion |40 which cooperates with the upwardly offset portion |34 of track I 22 to provide sufficient clearance to accommodate pin |28 and the lower ends of latch member'l32. When latch member 32 is pivoted downwardly under the influence of spring |42 toengage detent |44 in one of the spaced aperturesY |46 on track member |22, pin |28 engages the under side of the oiset portion |34 of track member |22 to irmly clamp the track members together.v In other respects the construction and operation of the track assembly illustrated in Figs. 9 vthrough 12 is generally the same as that shown in Figs. l through 8.

It will be appreciated that, although the means illustrated on the lower track member for locking the tracks in a plurality of longitudinally adjusted positions are in the form of openings 16, other means may be employed for interengaging with the detent on the latch member (detent 86 in the case of latch 18 and detent |44 in the case of latch |32). Thus, these means may be in the form ofa series of depressions,

Vsockets or notches in the raised'portion 36 of the lower track member.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a relatively simple construction for a seat track which operates very smoothly and freely when unlocked for adjustment but which, at the same time, is arranged to be firmly locked in a position of longitudinal adjustment and tightly clamped against lateral movement, that is, the tracks are prevented from moving relative to each other in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axes of the two track members. The comparatively loose t betweenthe upper and lower track members insures free sliding movement of the upper track member on` the lower track member when unlocked for adjustment. The operation of theseat is not substantially impaired by the accumulation of dust or dirt in the raceways of the two track members. At the same time, the clamping action of the locking pawl provides a very rm and rattlefree arrangement when the two track members are locked in a desired position of adjustment.

It'wll also be noted that the 'rigidity or the construction is enhanced' by mounting the base of the lower track member directly on the floor panel of thel vehicle and by curving the ends of the upper track member upwardly for direct connection with the frame AofA the vehicle seat.

I claim.:

1. An adjustable seat support comprising a pair of track members having juxtaposed raceways, anti-friction rolling- Velements positioned in said raceways and between. said track members, said track members being loosely connected tgether and being free to move relative to one another in a direction longitudinally of the raceways, and means for clamping said track members tightly together comprising a yoke pivotally supported on one. of: said track members and having a pair oflegs straddling the other track member, a clamping member at the end of at least. one of said legs', and a clamping surface on said other track. member engageable by said clampingmember when the yoke is pivoted to thereby clamp Said tracks tightly together against said rollingelements 2. The combination setv forth in claim 1 including means biasing said yoke to a position normally urging said clamping member into en gagement withA said clamping surface.

3. An adjustable seat support comprising a pair of track. members; eachv having raceways adjacent each end thereof, said track members being arranged such that the raceways on one track member are juxtaposed tov the raceways on the other track member, anti-friction rolling elements in said racewaysv and between said track members for permitting Vrelative longitudinal movement of said track members, one of said trackmembers having a portion intermediate the raccways thereon offset from the raceways in the direction ofthe other track member, said offset portion being provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets, aI latch member pivoted on the other track member and having a detent selectively engageable with said sockets to lock said track members together in a plurality of longitudinally adjustable positions.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the opposite ends of said offset portion form stops forlimiting the extent of rolling movement of said antif-friction rolling elements.

5. The. combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said latch member comprises a yoke pivoted on the one' track member and having a pair of depending legs straddling the other track member and including. means extending between the free ends of saidA legs and engageable with a portion of said other track member when said latch member is pivoted into engagement with saidv sockets to clamp said track members tightly together against said anti-friction rolling elements.

5. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the latch member is pivoted on an axis extending transversely of and intersecting the longitudinal axis. of said. longitudinally spaced sockets.

7. In a seat supporting arrangement for a vehicle of. the type wherein the seat is supported at each side by adjustable supports, each support including a pair ofv relatively movable track members and a locking member movably mounted on one of the track members of each pair and engageable. with` the other-track member of each. pair to. lock the seat in a plurality of different positions of' longitudinal adjustment, the

8 combination of thcrelease. mechanism for actu-- ating the locking member on each ofthe supports to a position out of engagement with its associated track member comprising a ilexible tension member extending between and connected' with the latch members on said two sup.- ports, and means -slidably engageable with said tension member to shorten the effective length thereof andA thereby exertV simultaneous and equal forces on said two latch members to urge said latchv membersout of engagement with their as.- sociated track members. Y

8. The combinationset forth in claim '7 wherein said last mentioned means includes a rotatable member and means on said rotatable member engageable. with the cable at two spaced points on oppositeV sides ofi the pivotal axis of the rotatable member.

9. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a pivotally supported shaft having adjacent one end thereof a lever xedv thereto, a pair of pulleys on said lever; spacedV onopposite. sides of the pivotal axis of said shaft andV engaging saidv tension member.

10. In a vehicle, the combination of a pair of adjustable seat supports spaced apart transversely of the vehicle. andl mounted on the door of the vehicle, a seat supported adjacent its opposite ends on said supports; each of said supports comprisingk two track members movably interengaged for relative longitudinal movement, one of said` track members beingV secured to the iioor of the vehicle and the other track member being connected with the frameof the vehicle seat, one of saidl trackmembers having a latch member movably mounted thereon and engageable with the other track member tov lock the seat in a plurality of diierent positions of longitudinal adjustment, means normally biasing said latch member into engagement with said other track member, and means forV retracting the latch member out of engagement with said other track member comprising a relatively non-extensible exible cableextending between and connected at its opposite ends with said latches, a shaft pivoted on an axis fixed relative tothe track member on which the latch member is pivoted, a pair of spaced apart membersk at one end of the shaft engaging opposite sides of the cable and ar ranged, when the shaft` isA rotated, to draw the portionsv of said cable extending between said shaft and said latches in the direction of said shaft to thereby shorten thev effective length of said cable and simultaneously urge with equal forces the latches out ofr engagement with said other track member.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said pair of members on said shaft comprisesa pair of pulleysv rotatably supported by said shaft on opposite sides of the axis of said shaft..

12. In a vehicle, the combination of a pair of adjustable seat support assemblies spaced apart transversely of the vehicle and mounted on the floor thereof, a seat supported adjacent its opposite ends on said support assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising two track members slidably arranged for relative movement longitudinally 0f the Vehicle, one, of said tracks being secured to the door of the vehicle and the other being connected with the frame of the vehicle seat, one of said tracks having a latch member movably mounted thereon, the. other track having a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets theref on with which the latch member is selectively engageable to lock the seat in a plurality of difi ferent positions of longitudinal adjustment, means normally biasing latch member into engagement with said sockets, and means for retracting the latch member out of engagement with said abutments comprising a relatively nonextensible cable extending between and connected at its opposite ends with said latches, a shaft pivoted on an axis fixed relative to the track member on which the latch is pivoted, said shaft having a pair of spaced apart projections engaging the opposite sides of the cable and arranged, when the shaft is rotated, to urge the portions of said cable extending between said shaft and said latches in the direction of said shaft to thereby shorten the effective length of said cable andsimultaneously urge the latches out of engagement with said abutments.

13. In a vehicle, the combination of a pair of adjustable support assemblies spaced apart transversely of the vehicle and mounted on the oor of the Vehicle, a seat supported adjacent its opposite ends of said support assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising two track members slidably arranged for relative longitudinal movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, one of said tracks being secured to the iioor of the vehicle and the other being connected with the frame of the vehicle seat, one of said tracks having a latch member movably mounted thereon, the other track member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets thereon with which the latch member is selectively engageable to lock the seat in a plurality of different positions of longitudinal adjustment, means normally biasing said latch member into engagement with said sockets, and means for retracting the latch member out of engagement with said sockets comprising a relatively non-extensible ilexible cable extending between and connected at its opposite ends with said latches, and a pivotally supported actuating member arranged when pivoted to shorten the effective length of said cable and thereby urge the portions of said cable extending between said actuating member and said latches in the direction of said actuating member, said actuating member having a slippable connection with said cable whereby the cable is adapted to slip past said actuating member to simultaneously apply equal force on said latches.

14. The combination set forth in claim 13 wherein the actuating member is pivoted on an axis fixed relative to the track on which the latch is supported.

15. An adjustable seat support comprising a pair of track members having juxtaposed raceways, anti-friction rolling elements positioned in said raceways and between said track members, sait. track members being loosely connected tcgether and being free to move relative to one another in a direction longitudinally of the raceways, and means for clamping said track members tightly together comprising a yoke pivotally supported on one of said track members and having a pair of legs straddlng the other track member, a clamping member extending across the ends of said legs so that said other track member is disposed between said clamping member and the bight portion of said yoke, and a clamping surface on said other track member engageable by said clamping member when the yoke is pivoted to thereby clamp said tracks -tightly together against said rolling elements.

CHARLES E. MCCORMICK.

References Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,735,518 Van Valkenburg et al. Nov. 12, 1929 1,887,077 Westrope Nov. 8, 1932 1,964,405 Nenne June 26, 1934 1,987,431 Browne Jan. 8, 1935 2,237,843 Rhodes Apr. 8, 1941 2,277,927 McGregor Mar. 31, 1942 2,335,254 Atwood et al Nov. 30, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 1,870 Great Britain 1892 316,437 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1929 

